Study Links Kids' Eating and Sleeping Patterns to Academic Success

Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham state that a kid's school success depends on good eating and sleeping habits.

Sleep is as important as food for children. Data according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that healthy eating habits and good sleep lead to academic success.

Academic success is an excellent indicator of overall well-being of youth and a primary predictor and determinant of adult health outcomes.

With no sufficient calories the brain does not function efficiently. Heading to school without breakfast affects kids' cognitive functions, according to Krista Casazza, Ph.D., R.D., assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition Sciences.

According to Casazza, kids should begin their day with fruits, whole grains and proteins. They should avoid consuming sugary cereals as they cause a sugar high and then a crash. A balanced breakfast helps the body to sustain for a longer period and helps in maintaining a child's attention till lunch time.

He states that lunch should hold the kids till dinner and in case they want to eat something before dinner they can chose between fruits, yogurt and veggies. Baked chips in moderation are also a good option. Make sure to give water rather than soda.

"Children need a good night's sleep for their overall school performance," said Kristin Avis, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine. "Lack of sleep can lead to problems with attention and memory in the classroom; affect impulse control and mood regulation lead to anxiety and even depression."

It is mandatory that kids of ages 6-12 should get nine hours of sleep but generally they get an average of a little more than seven hours sleep per night.

"If kids sleep in Saturday, they have a hard time going to bed Saturday night; so they sleep in Sunday and have a hard time going to bed Sunday night," Avis said. "Monday morning they are tired, and it's hard to wake up for school. They struggle to get back on a good sleep schedule."